title: [Influence of "Sancai" acupuncture treatment on plasma and urine SP, 5-HT levels of renal colic patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of "Sancai Needling" (superficial, medium and deep insertion of the acupuncture needle) combined with electroacupuncture ( EA) stimulation of Shenshu ( BL 23) on plasma and urine SP and 5- HT levels in renal colic patients, so as to study its mechanism underlying improvement of renal colic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty renal colic patients (lower-energizer stasis type) were randomly allocated to "Sancai Needling" -EA group, Ashi-point-EA group and routine EA treatment group, with 20 cases in each group. The "Sancai Needling"-EA meant that an acupuncture needle was inserted into the subcutaneous layer of BL 23 first and EA stimulation was given for 10 min; then the needle was inserted into the medium layer (muscle layer) and EA stimulation performed for 10 min; at last, the needle was further inserted into the periosteum-muscle layer and EA was performed for 10 min again. The procedures for Ashi-point-EA group were the same. For patients of the routine EA treatment group, EA was applied to BL 23 for 30 min. The therapeutic effect for pain was assessed according to McGill Pain Questionnaire. Plasma and urine SP and 5-HT contents were determined using enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) .
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with pre-treatment, pain scores, plasma and urine SP and 5-HT contents were remarkably decreased in renal colic patients of the "Sancai Needling"-EA group, Ashi-point-EA group and routine EA treatment group after the treatment ( P<0. 05). The effects of the "Sancai Needling"-EA group and Ashi-point-EA group were significantly superior to those of the routine EA treatment group in reducing pain score, plasma and urine SP and 5-HT contents( P<0. 05). No statistical differences were found between the "Sancai Needling"-EA group and Ashi-point-EA group in pain score, plasma and urine SP and 5-HT contents ( P>0. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "Sancai Needling"-EA treatment is effective in relieving renal colic in the patients, which may be closely associated with its effects in down-regulating plasma SP and 5-HT levels.
authors.affiliation: Liaoning University of Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China. wangwei425@126.com
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Dan
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Bao-Sheng
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Shag
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056844:Renal Colic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D013373:Substance P / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D013373:Substance P